Spatial navigation and creation interface

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for navigating messaging application interfaces. The systems and methods include operations for: displaying, by a messaging application of a user device, a menu comprising a first set of options relating to a first level in a hierarchy of levels; detecting, by a touch sensor, one finger touch of a first option of the first set of options; in response to detecting the one finger touch of the first option, displaying, by the messaging application, a second set of options related to the first option, the second set of options relating to a second level in the hierarchy of levels; detecting, by the touch sensor, two finger touch of a second option of the second set of options; and in response to detecting the two finger touch of the second option, re-displaying, by the messaging application, the first set of options.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/301,284, filed on Mar. 30, 2021, which claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/003,057, filed on Mar. 31,2020, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field ofsocial networks. In particular, the present embodiments are generallydirected to navigating through interfaces of a messaging application.

BACKGROUND

As the popularity of social networking grows, social networks areexpanding their capabilities. To improve ease of use, social networksare integrating more and more functions such that a user may accomplishmany or even most of their computer-based tasks within the socialnetwork itself. One vision of social networks is that they eventuallybecome a virtual operating system, from which a user seldom finds a needto remove themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. To easily identifythe discussion of any particular element or act, the most significantdigit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number inwhich that element is first introduced. Some embodiments are illustratedby way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network,according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating data which may be stored inthe database of a messaging server system, according to exampleembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a messagegenerated by a messaging client application for communication, accordingto example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the messagingclient application, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative example of a hierarchy of levels of a menu ofthe messaging client application, according to example embodiments.

FIGS. 6, 7A, 7B and 7C show illustrative inputs and outputs of themessaging client application, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a representative softwarearchitecture, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine able toread instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., amachine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein, according to example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes systems, methods, techniques,instruction sequences, and computing machine program products thatembody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the followingdescription, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide an understanding of variousembodiments. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art,that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Ingeneral, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, andtechniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Often, users consume media content, and specifically videos, on theirmobile device. Such media content is typically exchanged in chatsessions between users. Interacting with such media content is typicallydone by navigating complex menu structures using multiple inputs. Suchnavigation on limited user interface devices, such as watches andhead-mounted displays, can be tedious, burdensome and inefficient.Specifically, because such user interfaces are limited in the amount andtype of content and interactions they provide, additional menus orinputs are needed to reach certain options. For example, a userinterface that can only present one option at a time, requires the userto navigate through multiple options on the user interface beforereaching an option the user desires to select.

The disclosed embodiments improve the efficiency of using the electronicdevice by providing a system that leverages multiple types of userinputs to seamlessly and quickly navigate through a complex menuhierarchy. Specifically, according to the disclosed techniques, amessaging application of a user device displays a menu that includes afirst set of options relating to a first level in a hierarchy of levels.The menu may be displayed on a limited user interface device, such as asmartwatch or head-mounted display. The messaging application detects,by a touch sensor, one finger touch of a first option of the first setof options and, in response, displays a second set of options related tothe first option. The second set of options relates to a second level inthe hierarchy of levels. The messaging application detects, by the touchsensor, two finger touch of a second option of the second set of optionsand, in response, re-displays the first set of options. In this way, theuser can quickly and easily switch between options displayed atdifferent levels in a menu hierarchy. This increases the efficiencies ofthe electronic device by reducing the amount of pages of information andinputs needed to accomplish a task.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system 100 forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network106. The messaging system 100 includes multiple client devices 102, eachof which hosts a number of applications, including a messaging clientapplication 104 and a third-party application 105. Each messaging clientapplication 104 is communicatively coupled to other instances of themessaging client application 104, the third-party application 105, and amessaging server system 108 via a network 106 (e.g., the Internet).

Accordingly, each messaging client application 104 and third-partyapplication 105 is able to communicate and exchange data with anothermessaging client application 104 and third-party application(s) 105 andwith the messaging server system 108 via the network 106. The dataexchanged between messaging client applications 104, third-partyapplications 105, and the messaging server system 108 includes functions(e.g., commands to invoke functions) and payload data (e.g., text,audio, video, or other multimedia data). Any disclosed communicationsbetween the messaging client application 104 and the third-partyapplication(s) 105 can be transmitted directly from the messaging clientapplication 104 to the third-party application(s) 105 or indirectly(e.g., via one or more servers) from the messaging client application104 to the third-party application(s) 105.

The third-party application(s) 105 and the messaging client application104 are applications that include a set of functions that allow theclient device 102 to access a message storage system 124. Thethird-party application 105 is an application that is separate anddistinct from the messaging client application 104. The third-partyapplication(s) 105 are downloaded and installed by the client device 102separately from the messaging client application 104. In someimplementations, the third-party application(s) 105 are downloaded andinstalled by the client device 102 before or after the messaging clientapplication 104 is downloaded and installed. The third-party application105 is an application that is provided by an entity or organization thatis different from the entity or organization that provides the messagingclient application 104. The third-party application 105 is anapplication that can be accessed by a client device 102 using separatelogin credentials than the messaging client application 104. Namely, thethird-party application 105 can maintain a first user account and themessaging client application 104 can maintain a second user account. Forexample, the third-party application 105 can be a social networkingapplication, a dating application, a ride or car sharing application, ashopping application, a trading application, a gaming application, anoperating system application (e.g., a push notification application), oran imaging application. Any function pertaining to navigation of ahierarchy of levels of a menu discussed in relation to the messagingclient application 104 can be performed also by the third-partyapplication 105.

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality viathe network 106 to a particular messaging client application 104. Whilecertain functions of the messaging system 100 are described herein asbeing performed by either a messaging client application 104 or by themessaging server system 108, it will be appreciated that the location ofcertain functionality either within the messaging client application 104or the messaging server system 108 is a design choice. For example, itmay be technically preferable to initially deploy certain technology andfunctionality within the messaging server system 108, but to latermigrate this technology and functionality to the messaging clientapplication 104 where a client device 102 has a sufficient processingcapacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operationsthat are provided to the messaging client application 104. Suchoperations include transmitting data to, receiving data from, andprocessing data generated by the messaging client application 104. Thisdata may include message content, client device information, geolocationinformation, media annotation and overlays, virtual objects, messagecontent persistence conditions, social network information, and liveevent information, as examples. Data exchanges within the messagingsystem 100 are invoked and controlled through functions available viauser interfaces (UIs) of the messaging client application 104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, an APIserver 110 is coupled to, and provides a programmatic interface to, anapplication server 112. The application server 112 is communicativelycoupled to a database server 118, which facilitates access to a database120 in which is stored data associated with messages processed by theapplication server 112.

Dealing specifically with the API server 110, this server 110 receivesand transmits message data (e.g., commands and message payloads) betweenthe client device 102 and the application server 112. Specifically, theAPI server 110 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines andprotocols) that can be called or queried by the messaging clientapplication 104 and the third-party application 105 in order to invokefunctionality of the application server 112. The API server 110 exposesvarious functions supported by the application server 112, includingaccount registration; login functionality; the sending of messages, viathe application server 112, from a particular messaging clientapplication 104 to another messaging client application 104 orthird-party application 105; the sending of media files (e.g., images orvideo) from a messaging client application 104 to the messaging serverapplication 114, and for possible access by another messaging clientapplication 104 or third-party application 105; the setting of acollection of media data; the retrieval of such collections; theretrieval of a list of friends of a user of a client device 102; theretrieval of messages and content; the adding and deleting of friends toa social graph; the location of friends within a social graph; access touser conversation data; access to avatar information stored on messagingserver system 108; and opening an application event (e.g., relating tothe messaging client application 104).

The application server 112 hosts a number of applications andsubsystems, including a messaging server application 114, an imageprocessing system 116, a social network system 122, and the messagestorage system 124. The messaging server application 114 implements anumber of message processing technologies and functions, particularlyrelated to the aggregation and other processing of content (e.g.,textual and multimedia content) included in messages received frommultiple instances of the messaging client application 104. As will bedescribed in further detail, the text and media content from multiplesources may be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., calledstories or galleries). These collections are then made available, by themessaging server application 114, to the messaging client application104. Other processor- and memory-intensive processing of data may alsobe performed server-side by the messaging server application 114, inview of the hardware requirements for such processing.

The application server 112 also includes an image processing system 116that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations,typically with respect to images or video received within the payload ofa message at the messaging server application 114. A portion of theimage processing system 116 may also be implemented by the messagestorage system 124.

The social network system 122 supports various social networkingfunctions and services and makes these functions and services availableto the messaging server application 114. To this end, the social networksystem 122 maintains and accesses an entity graph within the database120. Examples of functions and services supported by the social networksystem 122 include the identification of other users of the messagingsystem 100 with which a particular user has relationships or is“following” and also the identification of other entities and interestsof a particular user. Such other users may be referred to as the user'sfriends. Social network system 122 may access location informationassociated with each of the user's friends to determine where they liveor are currently located geographically. Social network system 122 maymaintain a location profile for each of the user's friends indicatingthe geographical location where the user's friends live.

The application server 112 is communicatively coupled to a databaseserver 118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which isstored data associated with messages processed by the messaging serverapplication 114. Database 120 may be a third-party database. Forexample, the application server 112 may be associated with a firstentity, and the database 120 or a portion of the database 120 may beassociated with and hosted by a second, different entity. In someimplementations, database 120 stores user data that the first entitycollects about various each of the users of a service provided by thefirst entity. For example, the user data includes user names, passwords,addresses, friends, activity information, preferences, videos or contentconsumed by the user, and so forth.

In some embodiments, the messaging client application 104 enables a userto navigate through a hierarchy of levels of a menu using various touchinputs. For example, the messaging client application 104 presents afirst level of the hierarchy of levels on a touch screen display thatincludes a first set of options. The messaging client application 104may detect a single or one finger touch at a location corresponding to afirst option of the first set of options of the first level. Inresponse, the messaging client application 104 displays a second levelof the hierarchy of levels that includes a set of options correspondingto the first option. The second level may be displayed in replacement ofthe first level in which case the first set of options are removed fromthe display and the second set of options are displayed at the same orsubstantially the same location as the first set of options. In somecases, the second set of options are presented above or below oradjacent to the first set of options, such that both the first andsecond sets of options are displayed simultaneously. Any touch inputreceived from the user when the second set of options are displayed isassociated with and navigates through the second set of options.

The messaging client application 104 may receive a two-finger ormulti-finger touch of a second option that is included in the second setof options. In some cases, the two-finger touch input may be received atany other suitable location on the display screen or input interface. Inresponse, the messaging client application 104 navigates back to thefirst level of the hierarchy of levels to display the first set ofoptions again. In some cases, the first set of options replaces thedisplay of the second set of options. In cases where the first andsecond sets of options are simultaneously displayed, the second set ofoptions is removed from the display and navigation returns to the firstset of options. Namely, any input received subsequent to the two-fingertouch is associated with the first level of the hierarchy (e.g., thefirst set of options). In this way, a user can quickly and easilynavigate up sequential levels of the hierarchy by providing a one-fingertouch of respective options of the levels of the hierarchy that arepresented and can quickly and easily navigate back down sequentiallevels of the hierarchy by providing a two-finger touch of a particularoption or anywhere on the screen.

While the second set of options are presented that are part of thesecond level of the hierarchy, the messaging client application 104 mayreceive a one-finger touch of a third option in the second set ofoptions. The messaging client application 104 may determine whether athird level of the hierarchy is available for the third option thatincludes a third set of options. If the third level is available for thethird option, the messaging client application 104 navigates the user tothe third level of the hierarchy and replaces the second level of thehierarchy or presents the third set of options adjacent to the first andsecond sets of options. If the third level is not available for thethird option, the messaging client application 104 activates a functioncorresponding to the third option, and automatically navigates the userback to the first level of the hierarchy.

In some cases, each level of the hierarchy can be presented on anon-touchscreen display and a touch sensor coupled to thenon-touchscreen display may receive touch input from a user to enablenavigation through the hierarchy of levels. For example, the display maybe provided on lenses of glasses and the touch sensor may be placed onthe frame of the glasses and is configured to receive touch input from auser when a user touches the frame of the glasses at a particular pointwith one or two fingers. The user can drag the finger across the frameto perform a touch and slide operation.

The messaging client application 104 enables a user to quickly andeasily navigate to a next level of a hierarchy of levels and select anoption in the next level and then return back to the original level ofthe hierarchy without lifting the user's finger from the touch sensor.As an example, a first level of a hierarchy of levels is presented inwhich the first set of options is presented. The messaging clientapplication 104 may detect a one-finger touch and hold input over agiven option of the first set of options. For example, the user maytouch an area of the touch sensor corresponding to the given option withone finger and may keep that finger positioned and placed on the touchsensor for a threshold period of time without moving the finger (e.g.,for 2 seconds) to provide the touch and hold input. In response, themessaging client application 104 presents a second level of thehierarchy with a second set of options corresponding to the givenoption. In some cases, the second set of options includes multipleindividual options that can be selected or a slider that enablessequential adjustment of a parameter. As mentioned previously, thesecond set of options may be presented in replacement of the first setof options or adjacent to the first set of options. Without lifting theuser's finger after providing the touch and hold input, the user canslide (swipe) the finger across the display or touch sensor (e.g., leftand right). As the user slides (swipes) the finger, different respectiveones of the options displayed as part of the second set of options areindicated for selection or the slider is moved to new positionsleft/right corresponding to movement of the finger across the display ortouch sensor. When the option of the second set of options is indicatedfor selection that is of interest to the user, the user can lift thefinger to cause the indicated option to be selected and to automaticallyreturn to the first level of the hierarchy. In this way, the user can,with a combination of gestures using a single finger touch (touch andhold, slide, and removing or releasing the finger) can navigate to anext level of the hierarchy (e.g., level 2), select an option ofinterest, and return to the previous level of the hierarchy (e.g., level1).

The messaging client application 104 enables a user to quickly andeasily navigate to a previous level of a hierarchy of levels and selectan option in the previous level and then return back to the originallevel of the hierarchy without lifting the user's finger from the touchsensor. As an example, a second level of a hierarchy of levels ispresented in which the second set of options is presented. The messagingclient application 104 may detect a two-finger touch and hold input overa given option of the second set of options. For example, the user maytouch an area of the touch sensor corresponding to the given option withtwo fingers and may keep those fingers positioned and placed on thetouch sensor for a threshold period of time without moving the fingers(e.g., for 2 seconds) to provide the two-finger touch and hold input. Inresponse, the messaging client application 104 returns to presenting andenabling navigation through the first level of the hierarchy with thefirst set of options. In some cases, the first set of options includesmultiple individual options that can be selected or a slider thatenables sequential adjustment of a parameter. As mentioned previously,the first set of options may be presented in replacement of the secondset of options or adjacent to the second set of options. Without liftingthe user's two-fingers after providing the two-finger touch and holdinput, the user can slide (swipe) the two fingers across the display ortouch sensor (e.g., left and right). As the user slides (swipes) thetwo-fingers, different respective ones of the options displayed as partof the first set of options are indicated for selection or the slider ismoved to new positions left/right corresponding to movement of the twofingers across the display or touch sensor. When the option of the firstset of options is indicated for selection that is of interest to theuser, the user can lift the two fingers to cause the indicated option tobe selected and to automatically return to the second level of thehierarchy. In this way, the user can, with a combination of gesturesusing a single touch with two fingers (touch and hold, slide, andremoving or release the two fingers) can navigate to a previous level ofthe hierarchy (e.g., level 1 from level 2 or to level 1 from level 3skipping over level 2), select an option of interest, and return to thenext level of the hierarchy (e.g., level 2).

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram 200 illustrating data, which may be storedin the database 120 of the messaging server system 108, according tocertain example embodiments. While the content of the database 120 isshown to comprise a number of tables, it will be appreciated that thedata could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as anobject-oriented database).

The database 120 includes message data stored within a message table214. An entity table 202 stores entity data, including an entity graph204. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table202 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects,places, events, and so forth. Regardless of type, any entity regardingwhich the messaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognizedentity. Each entity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as anentity type identifier (not shown).

The entity graph 204 stores information regarding relationships andassociations between entities. Such relationships may be social,professional (e.g., work at a common corporation or organization),interest-based, or activity-based, merely for example.

Message table 214 may store a collection of conversations between a userand one or more friends or entities. Message table 214 may includevarious attributes of each conversation, such as the list ofparticipants, the size of the conversation (e.g., number of users and/ornumber of messages), the chat color of the conversation, a uniqueidentifier for the conversation, and any other conversation relatedfeature(s).

The database 120 also stores annotation data, in the example form offilters, in an annotation table 212. Database 120 also stores annotatedcontent received in the annotation table 212. Filters for which data isstored within the annotation table 212 are associated with and appliedto videos (for which data is stored in a video table 210) and/or images(for which data is stored in an image table 208). Filters, in oneexample, are overlays that are displayed as overlaid on an image orvideo during presentation to a recipient user. Filters may be of varioustypes, including user-selected filters from a gallery of filterspresented to a sending user by the messaging client application 104 whenthe sending user is composing a message. Other types of filters includegeolocation filters (also known as geo-filters), which may be presentedto a sending user based on geographic location. For example, geolocationfilters specific to a neighborhood or special location may be presentedwithin a UI by the messaging client application 104, based ongeolocation information determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS)unit of the client device 102. Another type of filter is a data filter,which may be selectively presented to a sending user by the messagingclient application 104, based on other inputs or information gathered bythe client device 102 during the message creation process. Examples ofdata filters include current temperature at a specific location, acurrent speed at which a sending user is traveling, battery life for aclient device 102, or the current time.

Other annotation data that may be stored within the image table 208 isso-called “lens” data. A “lens” may be a real-time special effect andsound that may be added to an image or a video.

As mentioned above, the video table 210 stores video data which, in oneembodiment, is associated with messages for which records are maintainedwithin the message table 214. Similarly, the image table 208 storesimage data associated with messages for which message data is stored inthe entity table 202. The entity table 202 may associate variousannotations from the annotation table 212 with various images and videosstored in the image table 208 and the video table 210.

A story table 206 stores data regarding collections of messages andassociated image, video, or audio data, which are compiled into acollection (e.g., a story or a gallery). The creation of a particularcollection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user forwhich a record is maintained in the entity table 202). A user may createa “personal story” in the form of a collection of content that has beencreated and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, the UI of themessaging client application 104 may include an icon that isuser-selectable to enable a sending user to add specific content to hisor her personal story.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collectionof content from multiple users that is created manually, automatically,or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example,a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted contentfrom various locations and events. Users whose client devices 102 havelocation services enabled and are at a common location event at aparticular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via a UIof the messaging client application 104, to contribute content to aparticular live story. The live story may be identified to the user bythe messaging client application 104 based on his or her location. Theend result is a “live story” told from a community perspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,”which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within aspecific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus)to contribute to a particular collection. In some embodiments, acontribution to a location story may require a second degree ofauthentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specificorganization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the universitycampus).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 300,according to some embodiments, generated by a messaging clientapplication 104 for communication to a further messaging clientapplication 104 or the messaging server application 114. The content ofa particular message 300 is used to populate the message table 214stored within the database 120, accessible by the messaging serverapplication 114. Similarly, the content of a message 300 is stored inmemory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the client device 102 orthe application server 112. The message 300 is shown to include thefollowing components:

-   -   A message identifier 302: a unique identifier that identifies        the message 300.    -   A message text payload 304: text, to be generated by a user via        a UI of the client device 102 and that is included in the        message 300.    -   A message image payload 306: image data, captured by a camera        component of a client device 102 or retrieved from memory of a        client device 102, and that is included in the message 300.    -   A message video payload 308: video data, captured by a camera        component or retrieved from a memory component of the client        device 102 and that is included in the message 300.    -   A message audio payload 310: audio data, captured by a        microphone or retrieved from the memory component of the client        device 102, and that is included in the message 300.    -   Message annotations 312: annotation data (e.g., filters,        stickers, or other enhancements) that represents annotations to        be applied to message image payload 306, message video payload        308, or message audio payload 310 of the message 300.    -   A message duration parameter 314: parameter value indicating, in        seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message        (e.g., the message image payload 306, message video payload 308,        message audio payload 310) is to be presented or made accessible        to a user via the messaging client application 104.    -   A message geolocation parameter 316: geolocation data (e.g.,        latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the        content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation        parameter 316 values may be included in the payload, with each        of these parameter values being associated with respect to        content items included in the content (e.g., a specific image        within the message image payload 306, or a specific video in the        message video payload 308).    -   A message story identifier 318: identifier value identifying one        or more content collections (e.g., “stories”) with which a        particular content item in the message image payload 306 of the        message 300 is associated. For example, multiple images within        the message image payload 306 may each be associated with        multiple content collections using identifier values.    -   A message tag 320: each message 300 may be tagged with multiple        tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of        content included in the message payload. For example, where a        particular image included in the message image payload 306        depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included        within the message tag 320 that is indicative of the relevant        animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user        input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,        image recognition.    -   A message sender identifier 322: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of a user of the client device 102 on        which the message 300 was generated and from which the message        300 was sent.    -   A message receiver identifier 324: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of user(s) of the client device 102 to        which the message 300 is addressed. In the case of a        conversation between multiple users, the identifier may indicate        each user involved in the conversation.

The contents (e.g., values) of the various components of message 300 maybe pointers to locations in tables within which content data values arestored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 306 maybe a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 208.Similarly, values within the message video payload 308 may point to datastored within a video table 210, values stored within the messageannotations 312 may point to data stored in an annotation table 212,values stored within the message story identifier 318 may point to datastored in a story table 206, and values stored within the message senderidentifier 322 and the message receiver identifier 324 may point to userrecords stored within an entity table 202.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the messagingclient application 104 in performing process 400, according to exampleembodiments. The process 400 may be embodied in computer-readableinstructions for execution by one or more processors such that theoperations of the process 400 may be performed in part or in whole bythe functional components of the messaging server system 108, clientdevice 102, third-party application 105, or the messaging clientapplication 104; accordingly, the process 400 is described below by wayof example with reference thereto. However, in other embodiments, atleast some of the operations of the process 400 may be deployed onvarious other hardware configurations. The process 400 is therefore notintended to be limited to the messaging client application 104 and canbe implemented in whole, or in part, by any other component. Some or allof the operations of process 500 can be in parallel, out of order, orentirely omitted.

At operation 401, a computing device (e.g., client device 102implementing the messaging client application 104) displays a menucomprising a first set of options relating to a first level in ahierarchy of levels. For example, as shown in reference to FIG. 5 , themessaging client application 104 presents a first level 501 (e.g., level0) of the hierarchy of levels 500. The first level 501 includes a firstset of options (represented by respective dots in the drawing).

At operation 402, the computing device detects, by a touch sensor, onefinger touch of a first option of the first set of options. For example,as shown in FIG. 5 , the messaging client application 104 receives a onefinger touch input (e.g., using a touch sensor integrated with thetouchscreen on which the options are displayed or associated with anon-touchscreen on which the options are displayed) of an option in thefirst level 501. In an example, the user selects the middle third optionin the first level 501.

At operation 403, the computing device displays a second set of optionsrelated to the first option. The second set of options relates to asecond level of the hierarchy of levels. For example, as shown inreference to FIG. 5 , the messaging client application 104 presents asecond level 503 (e.g., level 1) of the hierarchy of levels 500. Thesecond level 501 includes a first set of options (represented byrespective dots in the drawing) that correspond to the middle thirdoption in the first level 501 selected using the one finger touch by theuser.

At operation 404, the computing device detects, by the touch sensor, twofinger touch of a second option of the second set of options. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 5 , the messaging client application 104receives a two finger touch input (e.g., using a touch sensor integratedwith the touchscreen on which the options are displayed or associatedwith a non-touchscreen on which the options are displayed) of an optionin the second level 502 or anywhere on the screen.

At operation 405 the computing device in response to detecting the twofinger touch of the second option, re-displays the first set of options.For example, as shown in reference to FIG. 5 , the messaging clientapplication 104 re-presents the first level 501 (e.g., level 0) of thehierarchy of levels 500.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the messaging client application 104 enables a userto quickly and easily navigate through the illustrative hierarchy oflevels 500 of a menu. The hierarchy of levels 500 includes a first level501, a second level 502 and a third level 503. Each subsequent levelincludes options corresponding to a given option selected in theprevious level.

In one example, the hierarchy of levels 500 corresponds to types ofimage modification options. For example, the first level 501 includes afirst set of options that each modifies an image or video in a differentmanner. The first set of options includes any one or more of an optionto add a three-dimensional (3D) caption to an image or video, an optionto add a two-dimensional caption to an image or video, an option topaint/draw over an image or video, an option to apply a filter to theimage, or an option to apply graphical elements (e.g., augmented realityitems) to an image or video. The second level 502 includes a second setof options corresponding to each one of the first sets of options.

As an example, if the option to add a 3D caption to the image or videofrom the first level 501 is selected, the second set of options in thesecond level 502 includes any one or more of an option to adjust a sizeof the text, an option to adjust a position of the text, an option toadjust the font style of the text, or an option to adjust a color of thetext. The third level 503 includes a third set of options correspondingto each one of the second sets of options. As an example, if the optionto adjust the position of the text from the second level 502 isselected, the third set of options includes a 3D slider that allows auser to swipe the finger up/down/left/right to change the position ofthe 3D caption over the image or video. Once the desired position isselected (e.g., after the user releases the finger from the displayafter swiping in the desired direction), the messaging clientapplication 104 automatically presents the second level 502. Next, theuser can press and hold one finger over the option to adjust a color ofthe text from the second level 502, and in response, the messagingclient application 104 presents, as the third level 503, a slider thatallows a user to slide the finger left/right to change the color of the3D caption. Without releasing the finger from the press and holdoperation, the user slides the finger left and right to change the colorof the 3D caption. The 3D caption displayed over the image or videochanges color as the user slides the finger and when the user releasesthe finger, the 3D caption retains the last color selected by the userand the messaging client application 104 re-displays the second level502.

As shown in FIG. 6 , an interface 600 for using a one-finger touch tonavigate the hierarchy of levels is shown. Specifically, a first level601 of the hierarchy of levels 500 is presented to the user. A onefinger touch is detected over one of the options included in the firstlevel 601 and in response, a second level 602 of the hierarchy of levels500 is presented. In some cases, the one finger touch is a touch andhold operation. In response, as shown in FIG. 7A, a set of options 701(e.g., a slider) is presented. The user can swipe left/right across theoptions in the set of options 701 and when the user releases the onefinger (to end the one finger touch and hold operation), the first level601 is re-resented to the user

Interface 610 shown in FIG. 6 illustrates a two-finger touch to navigatethe hierarchy of levels. Specifically, after the second level 602 of thehierarchy of levels 500 of FIG. 5 is presented to the user, a two-fingertouch is received. In response, the first level 601 of the hierarchy oflevels 500 is re-presented. If the two-finger touch is a touch and holdoperation, the user can swipe left/right across the options in the firstlevel 601 and when the user releases the two-fingers, the second level602 is re-presented to the user.

While the second level 502 is presented, the user can touch and holdtwo-fingers over a given option in the second level. Without releasingthe user's fingers, the messaging client application 104 re-presents thefirst level 501 in which the first set of options are presented. Theuser can slide the two fingers over another option (e.g., the option toadd a filter to the image or video). When the user releases the twofingers, the messaging client application 104 automatically retrievesand displays, as the second level 502, a set of options corresponding toadding a filter to the image or video. For example, the second set ofoptions includes different types of filters. The user can select a giventype of filter from the second set of options. In response, the thirdlevel 503 is presented with options to modify parameters of the giventype of filter selected from the second level 502. For example, thethird level 503 includes options to modify the color, size, pattern orstyle of the given type of filter.

In one example, the hierarchy of levels 500 corresponds to types of mapoptions. For example, the first level 501 includes a first set ofoptions that each selects a type of map operation. The first set ofoptions includes any one or more of an option to search for adestination, an option to navigate to a destination, an option to searchfor nearby locations, and an option to modify layers of the map. Thesecond level 502 includes a second set of options corresponding to eachone of the first sets of options.

As an example, if the option to navigate to a destination from the firstlevel 501 is selected, the second set of options in the second level 502includes any one or more of an option to input an address or an optionto select a transportation mode. The third level 503 includes a thirdset of options corresponding to each one of the second sets of options.As an example, if the option to select a transportation mode from thesecond level 502 is selected, the third set of options includes a set ofoptions including one or more of a train option, a bus option, or a caroption. Once the desired position is selected (e.g., after the userreleases the finger from the display after tapping on the desiredtransportation mode), the messaging client application 104 automaticallypresents the second level 502. Next, the user can press and hold onefinger over the option to input an address from the second level 502,and in response the messaging client application 104 presents, as thethird level 503, a slider that allows a user to slide the fingerleft/right to select between previously stored destinations. Withoutreleasing the finger from the press and hold operation, the user slidesthe finger left and right to a desired destination. When the userreleases the finger, the messaging client application 104 providesdirections to the selected destination according to the selectedtransportation mode.

In one example, the hierarchy of levels 500 corresponds to types ofmedia playback options. For example, the first level 501 includes afirst set of options that each adjusts playback in a different way. Thefirst set of options includes any one or more of an option to select aseries, an option to adjust volume, an option to control a transportbar, or an option to adjust frame skipping operations. The second level502 includes a second set of options corresponding to each one of thefirst sets of options.

As an example, if the option to select a series from the first level 501is selected, the second set of options in the second level 502 includesidentifiers of various series that the user may be interested in. Thethird level 503 includes a third set of options corresponding to eachone of the first sets of options. As an example, if a first series isselected from the second level 502, the third set of options includes alist of various episodes of the first series. Once the desired episodeis selected, the messaging client application 104 automatically playsthe selected episode. If the option to adjust frame skipping operationsfrom the first level 501 is selected, the second set of options in thesecond level 502 includes one or more of a fast forward operation, arewind operation, a next episode operation, a previous episodeoperation, and so forth. The user can select one of the options from thesecond level 502 to modify the playback of the media asset (e.g., modifyplayback of the episode previous selected from the third level 503.

In one example, the hierarchy of levels 500 corresponds to types ofphone/video call options. For example, the first level 501 includes afirst set of options that each selects a different mode ofcommunication. The first set of options includes any one or more of anoption to send a video message, an option to start a phone call, anoption to start a single chat, an option to start a group chat, anoption to start a video call, and so forth. The second level 502includes a second set of options corresponding to each one of the firstsets of options.

As an example, if the option to place a phone call from the first level501 is selected, the second set of options in the second level 502includes identifiers of recent contacts for the user. The user canselect a contact from the second level 502 to initiate a phone call tothe selected contact. As an example, the user can touch and hold theoption to place a phone call from the first level, in response a list ofcontacts is presented. Without the user releasing the finger from thetouch and hold operation, the user can swipe to a desired contact, andwhen the user releases the finger, a call is initiated to the desiredcontact.

In one example, the hierarchy of levels 500 corresponds to types ofsystem navigation options. For example, the first level 501 includes afirst set of options that each modifies a different operating systemparameter. The first set of options includes any one or more of anoption to select an application to launch, a load/swap option, an optionto view battery, cellular/Wi-Fi connection, or time, or an option toactivate gesture inputs. The second level 502 includes a second set ofoptions corresponding to each one of the first sets of options.

As an example, if the option to launch an application from the firstlevel 501 is selected, the second set of options in the second level 502includes a list of different applications that are installed on theclient device 102. The user can tap or swipe to a given application inthe list to cause the application to be launched.

FIG. 7B illustrates a graphical user interface for navigating through amenu hierarchy using touch input, according to example embodiments. Themessaging client application 104 presents on a first interface 710 afirst set of options corresponding to a first level of a hierarchy. Themessaging client application 104 receives a one finger touch of a givenone of the first set of options illustrated by increasing a size of theselected option relative to the other options in the first set ofoptions. In response, the messaging client application 104 presents asecond interface 720 in which a second set of options is shown. Thesecond set of options corresponds to a second level of the hierarchy andcorresponds to the option selected from the first set of options shownin the first interface 710. The user can use one finger to touch andhold one of the options in the second set of options shown in secondinterface 720. In response, the messaging client application 104determines that a parameter adjustment is in the third level of thehierarchy corresponding to the selected option from the second set ofoptions. As a result, the messaging client application 104 presents aslider in the third interface 714 that allows the user to adjust theparameter by swiping the finger left/right without having lifted orreleased the finger after the initial touch and hold operation. Once theslider is placed in a desired location to make the desired parameteradjustment, the user can release the finger to end the touch and holdoperation and, in response, the messaging client application 104re-presents the second set of options in the second interface 712.

FIG. 7C illustrates a graphical user interface 720 for adding agraphical element to enhance or augment an image or video that isdisplayed using touch input, according to example embodiments.Specifically, the messaging client application 104 presents a first setof options corresponding to a first level of a hierarchy from which theuser selected an option to paint over an image or video. In response,the messaging client application 104 presents a graphical indicator 722that represents the type of brush style and paint color that will beused to paint over the image or video. The user can place the fingerover the image or video and drag the finger around to paint freestyleusing the represented type of brush style and paint color. After theoption to paint is selected from the first level, the messaging clientapplication 104 presents a second set of options 721 corresponding to asecond level of the hierarchy. The second set of options 721 includes acolor option 740 and a size option 730.

The user may press and hold one finger to initiate a one finger touchand hold operation over the color option 740. In response, the messagingclient application 104 presents a third level of the hierarchy as aslider 723. The user can swipe left and right to move the slider to adesired color. The desired color changes as the user swipes the fingerleft and right and is shown by updating the indicator 724 to representthe selected color. Once the user releases the finger from the slider723 to end the touch and hold operation, the messaging clientapplication 104 re-presents the second set of options 721.

The user may tap with one finger the size option 730 in the second setof options 721. In response, the messaging client application 104presents a third level of the hierarchy as a slider 725. The user canswipe left and right to move the slider to a desired size. The desiredsize changes as the user swipes the finger left and right and is shownby updating the size of indicator 726 to represent the selected size.Once the user is satisfied with the size that will be used for thepaintbrush, the user can tap the screen using two fingers to return tothe previous level of the hierarchy. In response, the messaging clientapplication 104 re-presents the second set of options 721.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example software architecture806, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described. FIG. 8 is a non-limiting example of asoftware architecture and it will be appreciated that many otherarchitectures may be implemented to facilitate the functionalitydescribed herein. The software architecture 806 may execute on hardwaresuch as machine 900 of FIG. 9 that includes, among other things,processors 904, memory 914, and input/output (I/O) components 918. Arepresentative hardware layer 852 is illustrated and can represent, forexample, the machine 900 of FIG. 9 . The representative hardware layer852 includes a processing unit 854 having associated executableinstructions 804. Executable instructions 804 represent the executableinstructions of the software architecture 806, including implementationof the methods, components, and so forth described herein. The hardwarelayer 852 also includes memory and/or storage modules memory/storage856, which also have executable instructions 804. The hardware layer 852may also comprise other hardware 858.

In the example architecture of FIG. 8 , the software architecture 806may be conceptualized as a stack of layers where each layer providesparticular functionality. For example, the software architecture 806 mayinclude layers such as an operating system 802, libraries 820,frameworks/middleware 818, applications 816, and a presentation layer814. Operationally, the applications 816 and/or other components withinthe layers may invoke API calls 808 through the software stack andreceive messages 812 in response to the API calls 808. The layersillustrated are representative in nature and not all softwarearchitectures have all layers. For example, some mobile or specialpurpose operating systems may not provide a frameworks/middleware 818,while others may provide such a layer. Other software architectures mayinclude additional or different layers.

The operating system 802 may manage hardware resources and providecommon services. The operating system 802 may include, for example, akernel 822, services 824, and drivers 826. The kernel 822 may act as anabstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers.For example, the kernel 822 may be responsible for memory management,processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management,networking, security settings, and so on. The services 824 may provideother common services for the other software layers. The drivers 826 areresponsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware.For instance, the drivers 826 include display drivers, camera drivers,Bluetooth® drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communication drivers(e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers), Wi-Fi® drivers, audiodrivers, power management drivers, and so forth depending on thehardware configuration.

The libraries 820 provide a common infrastructure that is used by theapplications 816 and/or other components and/or layers. The libraries820 provide functionality that allows other software components toperform tasks in an easier fashion than to interface directly with theunderlying operating system 802 functionality (e.g., kernel 822,services 824 and/or drivers 826). The libraries 820 may include systemlibraries 844 (e.g., C standard library) that may provide functions suchas memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions,mathematical functions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 820 mayinclude API libraries 846 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries tosupport presentation and manipulation of various media format such asMPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG), graphics libraries (e.g., anOpenGL framework that may be used to render two-dimensional andthree-dimensional in a graphic content on a display), database libraries(e.g., SQLite that may provide various relational database functions),web libraries (e.g., WebKit that may provide web browsingfunctionality), and the like. The libraries 820 may also include a widevariety of other libraries 848 to provide many other APIs to theapplications 816 and other software components/modules.

The frameworks/middleware 818 (also sometimes referred to as middleware)provide a higher-level common infrastructure that may be used by theapplications 816 and/or other software components/modules. For example,the frameworks/middleware 818 may provide various graphical userinterface functions, high-level resource management, high-level locationservices, and so forth. The frameworks/middleware 818 may provide abroad spectrum of other APIs that may be utilized by the applications816 and/or other software components/modules, some of which may bespecific to a particular operating system 802 or platform.

The applications 816 include built-in applications 838 and/orthird-party applications 840. Examples of representative built-inapplications 838 may include, but are not limited to, a contactsapplication, a browser application, a book reader application, alocation application, a media application, a messaging application,and/or a game application. Third-party applications 840 may include anapplication developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software developmentkit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform,and may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such asIOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or other mobile operating systems. Thethird-party applications 840 may invoke the API calls 808 provided bythe mobile operating system (such as operating system 802) to facilitatefunctionality described herein.

The applications 816 may use built-in operating system functions (e.g.,kernel 822, services 824, and/or drivers 826), libraries 820, andframeworks/middleware 818 to create UIs to interact with users of thesystem. Alternatively, or additionally, in some systems, interactionswith a user may occur through a presentation layer, such as presentationlayer 814. In these systems, the application/component “logic” can beseparated from the aspects of the application/component that interactwith a user.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 900,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.Specifically, FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine900 in the example form of a computer system, within which instructions910 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, orother executable code) for causing the machine 900 to perform any one ormore of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. As such, theinstructions 910 may be used to implement modules or componentsdescribed herein. The instructions 910 transform the general,non-programmed machine 900 into a particular machine 900 programmed tocarry out the described and illustrated functions in the mannerdescribed. In alternative embodiments, the machine 900 operates as astandalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine 900 may operate in the capacityof a server machine or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine 900 may comprise, but not be limitedto, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), atablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, acellular telephone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device(e.g., a smart watch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance),other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing theinstructions 910, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to betaken by machine 900. Further, while only a single machine 900 isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include acollection of machines that individually or jointly execute theinstructions 910 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The machine 900 may include processors 904, memory/storage 906, and I/Ocomponents 918, which may be configured to communicate with each othersuch as via a bus 902. In an example embodiment, the processors 904(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction setcomputing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC)processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aradio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor, or anysuitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 908and a processor 912 that may execute the instructions 910. The term“processor” is intended to include multi-core processors 904 that maycomprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as“cores”) that may execute instructions 910 contemporaneously. AlthoughFIG. 9 shows multiple processors 904, the machine 900 may include asingle processor 908 with a single core, a single processor 908 withmultiple cores (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors 908,912 with a single core, multiple processors 908, 912 with multiplecores, or any combination thereof.

The memory/storage 906 may include a memory 914, such as a main memory,or other memory storage, and a storage unit 916, both accessible to theprocessors 904 such as via the bus 902. The storage unit 916 and memory914 store the instructions 910 embodying any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 910 mayalso reside, completely or partially, within the memory 914, within thestorage unit 916, within at least one of the processors 904 (e.g.,within the processor's cache memory), or any suitable combinationthereof, during execution thereof by the machine 900. Accordingly, thememory 914, the storage unit 916, and the memory of processors 904 areexamples of machine-readable media.

The I/O components 918 may include a wide variety of components toreceive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information,exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/Ocomponents 918 that are included in a particular machine 900 will dependon the type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobilephones will likely include a touch input device or other such inputmechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely not include sucha touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components 918may include many other components that are not shown in FIG. 9 . The I/Ocomponents 918 are grouped according to functionality merely forsimplifying the following discussion and the grouping is in no waylimiting. In various example embodiments, the I/O components 918 mayinclude output components 926 and input components 928. The outputcomponents 926 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as aplasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)),acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., avibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and soforth. The input components 928 may include alphanumeric inputcomponents (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receivealphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumericinput components), point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, atouchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointinginstrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touchscreen that provides location and/or force of touches or touch gestures,or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., amicrophone), and the like.

In further example embodiments, the I/O components 918 may includebiometric components 939, motion components 934, environmentalcomponents 936, or position components 938 among a wide array of othercomponents. For example, the biometric components 939 may includecomponents to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facialexpressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measurebiosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,perspiration, or brain waves), identify a person (e.g., voiceidentification, retinal identification, facial identification,fingerprint identification, or electroencephalogram basedidentification), and the like. The motion components 934 may includeacceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometer), gravitation sensorcomponents, rotation sensor components (e.g., gyroscope), and so forth.The environmental components 936 may include, for example, illuminationsensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components(e.g., one or more thermometer that detect ambient temperature),humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g.,barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphonesthat detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g.,infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gasdetection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases forsafety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other componentsthat may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding toa surrounding physical environment. The position components 938 mayinclude location sensor components (e.g., a GPS receiver component),altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters or barometers that detectair pressure from which altitude may be derived), orientation sensorcomponents (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 918 may include communication components 940 operableto couple the machine 900 to a network 937 or devices 929 via coupling924 and coupling 922, respectively. For example, the communicationcomponents 940 may include a network interface component or othersuitable device to interface with the network 937. In further examples,communication components 940 may include wired communication components,wireless communication components, cellular communication components,near field communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth® components (e.g.,Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and other communicationcomponents to provide communication via other modalities. The devices929 may be another machine 900 or any of a wide variety of peripheraldevices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

Moreover, the communication components 940 may detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 940 may include radio frequency identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information may be derived via the communication components940, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation, locationvia Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting a NFC beaconsignal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

Glossary

“CARRIER SIGNAL,” in this context, refers to any intangible medium thatis capable of storing, encoding, or carrying transitory ornon-transitory instructions 910 for execution by the machine 900, andincludes digital or analog communications signals or other intangiblemedium to facilitate communication of such instructions 910.Instructions 910 may be transmitted or received over the network 106using a transitory or non-transitory transmission medium via a networkinterface device and using any one of a number of well-known transferprotocols.

“CLIENT DEVICE,” in this context, refers to any machine 900 thatinterfaces to a communications network 106 to obtain resources from oneor more server systems or other client devices 102. A client device 102may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop,PDAs, smart phones, tablets, ultra books, netbooks, laptops,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any other communicationdevice that a user may use to access a network 106.

“COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK,” in this context, refers to one or moreportions of a network 106 that may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, anextranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), awireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), the Internet, a portion of theInternet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), aplain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephonenetwork, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network, another type of network,or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, a network106 or a portion of a network may include a wireless or cellular networkand the coupling may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)connection, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) connection,or other type of cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, thecoupling may implement any of a variety of types of data transfertechnology, such as Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology(1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) technology, General PacketRadio Service (GPRS) technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE) technology, third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) including3G, fourth generation wireless (4G) networks, Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA),Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard, others defined by various standard settingorganizations, other long range protocols, or other data transfertechnology.

“EPHEMERAL MESSAGE,” in this context, refers to a message 300 that isaccessible for a time-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be atext, an image, a video, and the like. The access time for the ephemeralmessage may be set by the message sender. Alternatively, the access timemay be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient.Regardless of the setting technique, the message 300 is transitory.

“MACHINE-READABLE MEDIUM,” in this context, refers to a component,device, or other tangible media able to store instructions 910 and datatemporarily or permanently and may include, but is not limited to,random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory, flashmemory, optical media, magnetic media, cache memory, other types ofstorage (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and/orany suitable combination thereof. The term “machine-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers)able to store instructions 910. The term “machine-readable medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium, or combination of multiple media,that is capable of storing instructions 910 (e.g., code) for executionby a machine 900, such that the instructions 910, when executed by oneor more processors 904 of the machine 900, cause the machine 900 toperform any one or more of the methodologies described herein.Accordingly, a “machine-readable medium” refers to a single storageapparatus or device, as well as “cloud-based” storage systems or storagenetworks that include multiple storage apparatus or devices. The term“machine-readable medium” excludes signals per se.

“COMPONENT,” in this context, refers to a device, physical entity, orlogic having boundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branchpoints, APIs, or other technologies that provide for the partitioning ormodularization of particular processing or control functions. Componentsmay be combined via their interfaces with other components to carry outa machine process. A component may be a packaged functional hardwareunit designed for use with other components and a part of a program thatusually performs a particular function of related functions. Componentsmay constitute either software components (e.g., code embodied on amachine-readable medium) or hardware components. A “hardware component”is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various exampleembodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computersystem, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one ormore hardware components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or agroup of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an applicationor application portion) as a hardware component that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

A hardware component may also be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware component may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. A hardwarecomponent may be a special-purpose processor, such as afield-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A hardware componentmay also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarilyconfigured by software to perform certain operations. For example, ahardware component may include software executed by a general-purposeprocessor 908 or other programmable processor. Once configured by suchsoftware, hardware components become specific machines (or specificcomponents of a machine 900) uniquely tailored to perform the configuredfunctions and are no longer general-purpose processors 908. It will beappreciated that the decision to implement a hardware componentmechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or intemporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may bedriven by cost and time considerations. Accordingly, the phrase“hardware component” (or “hardware-implemented component”) should beunderstood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that isphysically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), ortemporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manneror to perform certain operations described herein. Consideringembodiments in which hardware components are temporarily configured(e.g., programmed), each of the hardware components need not beconfigured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example,where a hardware component comprises a general-purpose processor 908configured by software to become a special-purpose processor, thegeneral-purpose processor 908 may be configured as respectivelydifferent special-purpose processors (e.g., comprising differenthardware components) at different times. Software accordingly configuresa particular processor 908 or processors 904, for example, to constitutea particular hardware component at one instance of time and toconstitute a different hardware component at a different instance oftime.

Hardware components can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware components. Accordingly, the described hardwarecomponents may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Wheremultiple hardware components exist contemporaneously, communications maybe achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) between or among two or more of the hardware components. Inembodiments in which multiple hardware components are configured orinstantiated at different times, communications between such hardwarecomponents may be achieved, for example, through the storage andretrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware components have access. For example, one hardware component mayperform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memorydevice to which it is communicatively coupled. A further hardwarecomponent may then, at a later time, access the memory device toretrieve and process the stored output.

Hardware components may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation). The various operations of example methods described hereinmay be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors 904 thatare temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configuredto perform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors 904 may constitute processor-implementedcomponents that operate to perform one or more operations or functionsdescribed herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component”refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors904. Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor 908 or processors 904being an example of hardware. For example, at least some of theoperations of a method may be performed by one or more processors 904 orprocessor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processors904 may also operate to support performance of the relevant operationsin a “cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service”(SaaS). For example, at least some of the operations may be performed bya group of computers (as examples of machines 900 including processors904), with these operations being accessible via a network 106 (e.g.,the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an API).The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe processors, not only residing within a single machine 900, butdeployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments, theprocessors 904 or processor-implemented components may be located in asingle geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an officeenvironment, or a server farm). In other example embodiments, theprocessors 904 or processor-implemented components may be distributedacross a number of geographic locations.

“PROCESSOR,” in this context, refers to any circuit or virtual circuit(a physical circuit emulated by logic executing on an actual processor908) that manipulates data values according to control signals (e.g.,“commands,” “op codes,” “machine code,” etc.) and which producescorresponding output signals that are applied to operate a machine 900.A processor 908 may, for example, be a CPU, a RISC processor, a CISCprocessor, a GPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a RFIC or any combination thereof. Aprocessor 908 may further be a multi-core processor having two or moreindependent processors 904 (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that mayexecute instructions 910 contemporaneously.

“TIMESTAMP,” in this context, refers to a sequence of characters orencoded information identifying when a certain event occurred, forexample giving date and time of day, sometimes accurate to a smallfraction of a second.

Changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. These andother changes or modifications are intended to be included within thescope of the present disclosure, as expressed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: displaying, by a messagingapplication of a user device, a menu comprising a first set of optionsrelating to a first level in a hierarchy of levels; detecting, by atouch sensor, a first touch input selecting a first option of the firstset of options, the first touch input comprising a first number offingers of a user; in response to detecting the first touch input,displaying, by the messaging application, a second set of optionsrelated to the first option, the second set of options relating to asecond level in the hierarchy of levels; detecting, by the touch sensor,a second touch input selecting a second option of the second set ofoptions, the second touch input comprising a second number of fingers ofthe user that is different than the first number of fingers; and inresponse to detecting the second touch input, re-displaying, by themessaging application, the first set of options.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the first and second sets of options are displayed on a touchscreen comprising the touch sensor.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first and second sets of options are presented on a display, andwherein the touch sensor is included in a touch input device separatefrom the display.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:detecting, by the touch sensor, a combination of gestures of the secondtouch input; and in response to detecting the combination of gestures,displaying, by the messaging application, at the second level in thehierarchy of levels, a third set of options related to a third optionselected from the first set of options.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: detecting, by the touch sensor, a combination ofgestures of the first touch input in relation to a third option in thesecond set of options; in response to detecting the combination ofgestures, displaying a fourth option for modifying an attribute of thethird option, the fourth option related to a third level in thehierarchy of levels; while the combination of gestures continues to bedetected, detecting movement of the first number of fingers of the user;and modifying the attribute of the third option based on the movement ofthe first number of fingers.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: determining, by the touch sensor, that the combination ofgestures has been terminated when contact between the first number offingers of the user and the touch sensor is no longer detected; and inresponse to determining that the combination of gestures has beenterminated, automatically removing display of the fourth option andre-displaying the third option.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst number of fingers is one and the second number of fingers is two.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises ahead-mounted display.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user devicecomprises a smart watch.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the userdevice comprises a smart phone.
 11. A system comprising: one or moreprocessors configured to perform operations comprising: displaying, by amessaging application of a user device, a menu comprising a first set ofoptions relating to a first level in a hierarchy of levels; detecting,by a touch sensor, a first touch input selecting a first option of thefirst set of options, the first touch input comprising a first number offingers of a user; in response to detecting the first touch input,displaying, by the messaging application, a second set of optionsrelated to the first option, the second set of options relating to asecond level in the hierarchy of levels; detecting, by the touch sensor,a second touch input selecting a second option of the second set ofoptions, the second touch input comprising a second number of fingers ofthe user that is different than the first number of fingers; and inresponse to detecting the second touch input, re-displaying, by themessaging application, the first set of options.
 12. The system of claim11, wherein the first and second sets of options are displayed on atouch screen comprising the touch sensor.
 13. The system of claim 11,wherein the first and second sets of options are presented on a display,and wherein the touch sensor is included in a touch input deviceseparate from the display.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the oneor more processors are further configured to perform operationscomprising: detecting, by the touch sensor, a combination of gestures ofthe second touch input; and in response to detecting the combination ofgestures, displaying, by the messaging application, at the second levelin the hierarchy of levels, a third set of options related to a thirdoption selected from the first set of options.
 15. The system of claim11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to performoperations comprising: detecting, by the touch sensor, a combination ofgestures of the first touch input in relation to a third option in thesecond set of options; in response to detecting the combination ofgestures, displaying a fourth option for modifying an attribute of thethird option, the fourth option related to a third level in thehierarchy of levels; while the combination of gestures continues to bedetected, detecting movement of the first number of fingers of the user;and modifying the attribute of the third option based on the movement ofthe first number of fingers.
 16. A non-transitory machine-readablestorage medium that includes instructions that, when executed by one ormore processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operationscomprising: displaying, by a messaging application of a user device, amenu comprising a first set of options relating to a first level in ahierarchy of levels; detecting, by a touch sensor, a first touch inputselecting a first option of the first set of options, the first touchinput comprising a first number of fingers of a user; in response todetecting the first touch input, displaying, by the messagingapplication, a second set of options related to the first option, thesecond set of options relating to a second level in the hierarchy oflevels; detecting, by the touch sensor, a second touch input selecting asecond option of the second set of options, the second touch inputcomprising a second number of fingers of the user that is different thanthe first number of fingers; and in response to detecting the secondtouch input, re-displaying, by the messaging application, the first setof options.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium ofclaim 16, wherein the first and second sets of options are displayed ona touch screen comprising the touch sensor.
 18. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first andsecond sets of options are presented on a display, and wherein the touchsensor is included in a touch input device separate from the display.19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16,wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors of the machine, further cause the machine to performoperations comprising: detecting, by the touch sensor, a combination ofgestures of the second touch input; and in response to detecting thecombination of gestures, displaying, by the messaging application, atthe second level in the hierarchy of levels, a third set of optionsrelated to a third option selected from the first set of options. 20.The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, whereinthe instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors ofthe machine, further cause the machine to perform operations comprising:detecting, by the touch sensor, a combination of gestures of the firsttouch input in relation to a third option in the second set of options;in response to detecting the combination of gestures, displaying afourth option for modifying an attribute of the third option, the fourthoption related to a third level in the hierarchy of levels; while thecombination of gestures continues to be detected, detecting movement ofthe first number of fingers of the user; and modifying the attribute ofthe third option based on the movement of the first number of fingers.